Chapter Four: Leadership
Leadership that starts with being trusted.
Leadership at Catching Stars is not about being in charge or being the loudest person in the room. It begins when someone is trusted to help, make choices, follow through, encourage others, and contribute to something that matters.
One real responsibility
Leadership can begin with one real responsibility.
The Leadership Program is an accelerated next step from Social Club. Participants combine structured learning with real responsibilities, arriving earlier or staying later as they practise the skills involved in becoming a dependable teammate, volunteer, and possible future employee where that matches the person's goals.
It is designed for adults with diverse abilities, varying abilities, and special needs when leadership, responsibility, and contribution are the right next step.
Leadership usually runs Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How can someone become a leader?
Leadership grows from the Social Club experience.
As participants work toward their stars and practise the Five Pillars, we begin to notice their interests, strengths, readiness, and desire to take on more responsibility.
A participant may tell us they are interested in Leadership, or Cindy and the team may recognize qualities that could be developed further. We speak with the participant first and then work alongside their family to understand their goals, schedule, support needs, and whether the timing feels right.
If everyone agrees, the participant begins with support and grows into responsibilities at a pace that allows them to succeed.
Learning, practice, and expectations
We look for willingness, not perfection.
Participant voice stays at the centre: "I’m ready," "I tried it," "I completed it," "I need help," and "I want to try again."
What leaders learn
- Leadership qualities, communication, teamwork, encouragement, and inclusion.
- Time management, familiar routines, planning, organization, and following through.
- Physical, kitchen, emergency, and emotional safety at a participant-leader level.
- Problem-solving, compromise, asking for help, and learning from mistakes without shame.
- Confidence, independence, professional habits, resume awareness, and interview readiness where meaningful.
What leadership looks like in practice
- Arriving early to prepare materials or help set up.
- Welcoming participants and helping someone feel included.
- Helping with meals, activities, games, outings, and cleanup within an assigned role.
- Leading part of a game, conversation, or activity with support.
- Planning, communicating, and supporting others without taking over.
- Joining team meetings, reflecting on the day, and choosing a next step.
What Catching Stars expects
- Treat people with respect and protect safety and personal boundaries.
- Come prepared, communicate, listen, and work as part of a team.
- Follow through on agreed responsibilities and ask for help when it is needed.
- Accept guidance, try again, and make room for other people's ideas.
What leadership builds
The Five Pillars become practised leadership.
- Confidence
Being trusted to try.
A participant is trusted with a real role and begins to believe their contribution matters.
- Friendship
Making room for others.
Welcoming someone else, helping someone feel included, and encouraging a peer turns social confidence into care for the group and builds empathy.
- Independence
Responsibility becomes real.
Planning, setting up, cleaning up, and following through help responsibility become practised, not theoretical.
Confidence
Friendship
IndependenceHelping Hands
Helping Hands can grow from the Leadership Program.
Helping Hands is a developing initiative connected to Leadership. It gives interested, ready participants meaningful ways to contribute, help others, take responsibility, share their strengths, and help shape the initiative as it grows.
The opportunity grows with each person's interests, strengths, readiness, goals, and support needs. For some participants, that may mean helping with a familiar task. For others, it may become a bigger contribution over time.
Stage 1
Social Club
Build belonging, confidence, friendships, independence, and everyday participation.
Stage 2
Leadership Program
Add structured learning, reflection, and supported responsibility.
Stage 3
Helping Hands
Shape a developing initiative where interested, ready participants can contribute, help others, and share their strengths.
Stage 4
Future contribution
Keep growing toward responsibilities that fit the person's interests, goals, readiness, and support needs.
Family partnership
Goals should belong to the participant and be understood by the people who know them best.
Catching Stars listens to the participant first, works alongside the family where appropriate, and chooses realistic goals together.
Leadership is a meaningful next step when readiness, trust, and fit come together.
Families do not only need to know what happens in the day. They need to know when the next step is structured, thoughtful, and right for their person.